A New Knitscene: Duplicate Stitch, Stripes, and so much more!

A note from Kathleen: My trusty UPS gal brings me so many gifts—I feel my heart rate speed up at the sounds of her delivery truck pulling up to the curb. The latest is the Spring 2012 Knitscene. My friend Lisa Shroyer is the editor of the magazine, and she's done another phenomenal job. I took a quick flip-through to see what was what, and I've gone through it again at least three times, earmarking certain patterns for yarn in my stash (keeping that resolution in mind!).

Allyson Dykhuizen's Tulip Slouch

Even with all the hats that I finished before the holidays, I'm still inspired to make knitted accessories, and Allyson Dykhuizen's Tulip Slouch (pictured at left) caught my eye. The body of the hat is knitted in one color and the tulips are added with duplicate stitch. It's unique and absolutely stunning. I can't imagine how gorgeous it is in person. Tulips are my favorite and I love the idea of wearing these happy little flowers in the dead of winter.

There's so much to learn and inspire in this issue. Here's Lisa to tell you more.

Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark's Fleurette Camisole

The Brindle Pullover, by Debbie O'Neill

I've been knitting most of my life.I'm
fairly advanced in the craft, but there are holes in my knowledge-techniques I've
managed to miss, avoid, or misunderstand all these years.

Just this past year,
I learned the art of duplicate stitch from Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark. She was
teaching an embroidery class at a knitting retreat, and it was there I realized
that I'd never really understood the technique. When Mercedes decided to use
embroidery on two of her designs for her Knitscene collection,
including a good amount of duplicate in the Fleurette Camisole, it seemed like
a good time for a tutorial on this powerful stitch.

I've come to find duplicate stitch soothing, meditative-passing a tapestry
needle in and out of happy stockinette, making pictures and lines on my
knitting. I've also found, in designing Fair Isle projects, that it's the
easiest way to experiment with color placement.

Knit up a length of stockinette
in one of your colors, then start duplicating over it to try out motif and
color combinations. It's not good for measuring gauge, but it makes swatching
for color patterns so much easier!

From coloring your knits with duplicate stitch to understanding multicolor
yarns to playing with stripes to the palettes of spring brights, subtle jewel
tones, and the creamy neutrals of "Oh. Ecru," this issue approaches color and
yarn from many angles.

Color is important to knitters. It's such a part of the
creative experience-from choosing a yarn to admiring the fabric as it grows to
wearing the final product. The color of your yarn is a huge part of what makes
knitting good for the soul.

What colors make you think of spring? What colors make you feel renewed, wise,
ready to grow? For me it's earthy-green and brown infused with rose. A lot like
the colors in the Brindle Pullover. I can practically smell the soil now, ready
for spring planting.